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ago； is engraved a cat adoring Ra or the Sun； or perhaps the “Aten” or Disc。 I already possess the sister ring that； from the less amount of wear it shows； was probably worn by the shorter…lived Nefertiti； Khu…en…aten’s adored and； I believe； sole wife。 Both of them were obtained by us from the Rev。 W。 J。 Loftie in the year 1887； in Egypt when； about that time； the mummies of these queens were discovered and broken up by the Arabs at Tel…el…Amarna。
Chapter 16
Miss Ida Hector — H。 R。 H。 dictates his works to her — Wishes for change of occupation — Dream…pictures — H。 R。 H。‘s theory of Romance…writing — Literary coincidences — Examples from the works of H。 R。 H。 — The Spectator。
When I returned from Mexico in 1891 I fell into very poor health。 Everything； especially my indigestion； went wrong； so wrong that I began to think that my bones would never grow old。 Amongst other inconveniences I found that I could no longer endure the continual stooping over a desk which is involved in the writing of books。 It was therefore fortunate for me that about this time Miss Ida Hector； the eldest daughter of Mrs。 Hector； better known as Mrs。 Alexander； the novelist； became my secretary； and in that capacity； as in those of a very faithful friend and panion； to whose sound sense and literary judgment I am much indebted； has so remained to this day。 From that time forward I have done a great deal of my work by means of dictation； which has greatly relieved its labour。 Some people can dictate； and others cannot。 Personally I have always found the method easy； provided that the dictatee； if I may coin a word； is patient and does not go too fast。 I imagine； for instance； that it would be impossible to dictate a novel to a shorthand…writer。 Also； if the person who took down the words irritated one in any way； it would be still more impossible。 Provided circumstances are congenial； however； the plan has merits； since to many the mere physical labour of writing clogs the mind。 So； at least； various producers of books seem to have found。 Among them I recall Thackeray and Stevenson。
Of the next few years of my life there is not much to tell。 I lived here at Ditchingham in a very quiet and retired fashion； rarely visiting London； wrote a few novels； and for recreation occupied myself with farming and gardening； for which occupations I have always had an instinctive taste。 The work that I did was a good deal attacked： it was the fashion to attack me in those days。 Possibly owing to my ill…health some of it may not have been quite up to the mark； I do not know。 What I do know is that I grew heartily tired of the writing of stories。 After the birth of my youngest child； Lilias； which to my great joy happened at the end of the year 1892； my health and spirits began to mend and my energy to return； largely owing； I think； to the treatment of my friend Dr。 Lyne Stivens。 I was still a youngish man； but had reached that time of life when I felt that if I was to make any change of occupation it must be done at once。 And I longed to make a change； for this humdrum existence in a country parish； staring at crops and cultivating flowers； was； I felt； more suitable to some aged man whose life’s work was done than to myself。 Also at this time the unrealities of fiction…writing greatly wearied me； oddly enough much more than they do at present； when they have bee a kind of amusement and set…off to the more serious things and thoughts with which my life is occupied。
Still it is true that even now； if circumstances allowed of it； I do not think I should write much more fiction； at any rate of the kind that people would buy。 With the exception of certain stories that I should like to tell for their own sake； and not to earn money by them。 I should occupy my time with writings of a different sort； connected； probably； for the most part with the land； agriculture； and social matters。 For instance； I should dearly like to finish my survey of rural England； and to undertake that of Scotland； Wales； and Ireland — tasks； I suppose； that I shall never be able to execute。 Only this year23 I had arranged to make an effort to investigate and write on the agriculture of Ireland。 But then； of a sudden； I was appointed to the Dominions Royal mission； and how could I find time for both？ The months that I had proposed to devote to Ireland I have been obliged to spend in writing a story。
22 1912。 — Ed。
I know that folk — very superior folk — exist who affect to scorn the base person who does one kind of work when he would like to do another； merely because the former does and the latter does not pay。 There is something to be said for this position； but if a man chances to realise that he does not live unto himself alone； and to have many dependent upon him； directly or indirectly； or if he chances to desire to render gratuitous services to his country； he must； in such a case； “cut his coat according to his cloth。”
Therefore； although I should have dearly liked to place on record my views of Irish agriculture； in place thereof I have found myself obliged to edit certain of the reminiscences of Mr。 Allan Quatermain。 To be honest； these have amused me not a little； perhaps because I always find it easy to ain； who； after all； is only myself set in a variety of imagined situations； thinking my thoughts and looking at life through my eyes。 Indeed there are several subjects with which I always find it not difficult to deal — for instance； Old Egypt； Norsemen； and African savages。 Of these last； however； I prefer to write in the pany of the late Allan Quatermain。
At the time of which I am now speaking； the early niies； it was； however； otherwise； for then； being much younger； I wearied of fiction and longed for the life of action to which I had been bred and that； indeed； is native to my character。 In truth； the dislike and revolt of my heart in those days still haunts me as a kind of nightmare which is perhaps sufficiently amusing to relate。
Many people have their favourite dreams； and within the last year or so I have developed a very fair specimen of this class of illusion which es to me in an oft…repeated vision of the mind。 Who does not know that order of